South Carolina Charities, Inc., the non profit organization operating the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD Synnex has received a four-year extension, (to 2027) to continue to host the Korn-Ferry Tour event at Thornblade Club in Greer.

BMW Manufacturing, TD Synnex and Thornblade Club joined in the announcement extending their commitment to the event.

Noticeable by its absence from the press conference or any mention in the press release was the Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg.

Carolina helped revitalize interest in the BMW event, in the manufacturing plant’s home county, when it became the venue for Thursday and Friday rounds last year and is set to host the tournament again this week.

Tim Dunlap, the owner of Carolina Country Club, deserves much of the credit for bringing community support back to the event that had foundered and left Spartanburg over a dozen years ago before returning last year.

“We have been so pleased to be a part of the tournament and to bring such a great event to our community in Spartanburg,” Dunlap said. “We are putting all our energy into having a great week for the tournament and when it is over we will evaluate our situation going forward,” he said.

When the tournament was asked about the absence of Carolina Country Club from the announcement, the following statement was received.

“We look forward to a great week ahead with The Carolina Country Club and remain in discussion about future plans.” Ryan Tahara, Director, Tournament Business & Sponsor Relations, Korn Ferry Tour PGA TOUR.

When Carolina signed on to be the second course for the event last year it was celebrated as a major advancement for the tournament to once again bring the entire upstate into the event.

“There is a real energy around the tournament returning to Spartanburg, The Carolina Country Club team, members and residents have just been great. “We get to have an event that for a week draws attention to us as a whole, it really speaks to the Upstate. An event like this can really bring people together and that’s whats happening,” said BMW Manufacturing Manager of Government and Community Relations Max Metcalf at last year’s announcement adding Carolina Country Club to the tournament.

This year’s event begins with rounds at both Thornblade Club and Carolina Country Club on Thursday.

The field will alternate courses for the second round with the third and fourth rounds played at Thornblade Club.

Strong field set for the BMW

Even though the extension announcement made no mention of the quality of golfers the Korn-Ferry Tour will bring to the Upstate this year, the field for the event is stacked.

With home-town pros Trent Phillips (2nd last week in Raleigh) and Jacob Bridgeman (8th last week in Raleigh) playing some of their best professional golf, the field will also include five of the top six on the Korn-Ferry points list.

Five graduates of the PGA Tour University ranking will also be playing in the BMW.

2023 NCAA Champions Fred Biondi from the University of Florida will turn pro at the tournament.

The field includes a total of 9 golfers with ties to the Palmetto State giving area golf fans some recognizable faces and names to follow.

The celebrity grouping of former athletes, musicians, golf personalities, TV and movie actors suffered a big loss when boxing champion Canelo disappeared from the tournament’s celebrity list without explanation.

Fan favorites Larry “The Cable Guy” Ken Griffey, Jr. and the new addition of former Mets stand out reliever Jesse Orosco are some of the better known celebrities scheduled to play in this year’s tournament.

Tickets must be purchased in advance.

There are no sales at either Thornblade or Carolina.

The website for BMW tickets https://www.cuetoems.com/bmwpa_2023/Tickets.aspx